Monday, October 22, 2012

Florida Voter Fraud or Intimidation Cases Reported

TALLAHASSEE, Florida
– Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner is reminding Floridians to be
vigilant this election season and immediately report any potential
cases of voter fraud or intimidation. Examples of suspicious activity
can include letters or phone calls about voter eligibility or voting
locations or suspicious requests regarding absentee ballots.

"The Florida Department of State unequivocally opposes all attempts
at voter fraud or intimidation and will pursue every avenue to ensure
free, fair and open elections for all eligible voters," said Secretary
of State Ken Detzner. "Voter fraud and intimidation can deny voters
their voice in government and will not be tolerated. I am hopeful that
vigilant Floridians will help us identify suspicious activity by calling
Florida's voter fraud hotline at 1-877-868-3737."

The Department of State's Division of Elections is currently
investigating allegations of a person or group impersonating Florida's
supervisors of elections and fraudulently indicating that some voters
may be ineligible to vote. If any voter receives a fraudulent letter
with questionable identification from an elections supervisor, he or she
should immediately contact their supervisor of elections. County
supervisors of elections can confirm a voter's information is current
and accurate, as well as report any criminal acts to the appropriate
authorities. Other reported activity to the Division of Elections
includes phone calls about casting a ballot by phone and wrong voting
hours. The division has already forwarded cases of dual registration
and double voting to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to
investigate, as well as cases regarding illegal voter registration
activity.

As of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 22, 2012, Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Lori Scott told Brevard Times that 4 suspicious letters have been reported in Brevard County, Florida. All of the Brevard voters who received the letters were white, 3 Republican, one non-partyaffiliation, and located in Melbourne, Florida or the south Brevard County beaches. None of the recipients have Hispanic surnames. Scott did not know the ethnicity or the surnames of the recipients in the other Florida counties who recieved the letters.

Although the state-wide investigation is ongoing, and the county-by-county details may not be forthcoming for a statewide reporting right away, so far preliminary indications are that it is predominately Republican voters statewide who have reported receiving these letters according to Florida Secretary of State Press Secretary Chris Cate.

The Department of State's Division of Elections conducts preliminary
investigations into voter fraud in conjunction with the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement. If probable cause is found that a
violation occurred, the findings are reported to the statewide
prosecutor or the state attorney for the judicial circuit in which the
alleged violation occurred. A person who commits or attempts to commit
any fraud in connection with voting, votes a fraudulent ballot, or
votes more than once in an election can be convicted of a felony of the
third degree and fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 5
years. Certain repeat offenses carry higher penalties.